Stapling machine



July 29, 1947.

S. A. CROSBY STAPLING MACHINE Filed June '7, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 lllllll Jy 29, 1947; s. A. CROSBY STAPLING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 7, 1937 July 29, 1947. s. A. CROSBY STAPLING MACHINE Filed June 7, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 INVENTOR ATTORNEY lEZiL-i :lllnlll? JuBy 29, 1947.

j s. A. CROSBY s'rAPLms momma Filed June 7, 19:57

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 \NVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented July 29, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE s'rarmvo monmn Stephen A. Crosby, New York, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Speed Products 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 7, 1937, Serial No. 146,708

98 Claims. .(CL 1-3) The present invention deals with stapling and more particularly is concerned with an improved stapling machine of the type adapted to be utilized as a tacker. One object of the inventlon is to provide a serviceable top loading stapling machine which is practical and efficient in operation. Another object of the invention is to provide a novel stapling machine of the character referred to which is of simple construction and free of complicated mechanism. Another object of the invention is to provide a stapling machine. of the character referred to which is thoroughly dependable and reliable in operation and which may be readily inspected to remove clogged staples from the magazine thereof. Another object is to provide a stapling machine capable of meeting various requirements of practical use in a highly satisfactory manner. Another object is to provide a serviceable stapling machine which is compact in construction. Another object i to provide a functionally and structurally improved stapling machine which is convenient to operate. Specifically another salient and important object of the invention is realized in the provision of an emcient top loading stapling machine wherein quick access may be had to substantially the entire length of the wide open channel of the staple magazine thereof to permit speedy loading of a ful1 staple strip through the open top of the magazine after merely swinging the reciprocable cover for the magazine rearwardly pursuant to instantaneous unlocking of the cover from the magazine. An-

.other significant object is concerned with efiective means for retaining the staple strip in the open top magazine against upward displacement in the provision of a hollow housing or cover which is adapted to be swung towards or away from the magazine in a single arcuate motion and which embodies marginal means to telescope with the sides of the magazine for desirably and operatively aligning the cover with the magazine on closing of the latter by the cover. Another essential object is also concerned with utilizing the marginal means of the spaced sides of the cover in the closed relation of the latter to preclude upward displacement of the staple strip in the magazine. Another specific object resides in the provision of spring, controlled latch means automatically effective to instantaneously but disconnectably lock the cover and magazine on the completion of the closing of the magazine by the cover. Another important object is also realized in the provision of an improved staple follower slidably guided within the magazine z attached to one end of a helicoidal elastic connection trained over slidably guided latching means while another end of this spring is attached to the cover the arrangement being such that upon swinging of the cover rearwardly the follower is automatically displaced from the front part of the magazine towards the rear thereof and upon closing of the cover the follower is automatically shifted from the rear of the magazine towards the front part thereof to shift the staple strip towards the forward part of the magazine which includes a front transversely arranged wall or immovable means relative to the magazine to limit the forward displacement of the staple strip and to preclude slippage of the staple strip forwardly of the front wall of the magazine. Another specific object deals with novel means for instantly locating a staple guiding rail within the magazine. Another significant object is concerned with an effective clearing latch swingably carried by the base of the stapling machine and having means for disconnectably holding the magazine in a convenient but fully opened position to permit relatively instantaneous loading of the entire staple strip through the open top of the magazine after the cover for the magazine has been swung to the rear of the magazine to be substantially in longitudinal alignment therewith. Another important object has to do with a novel cover for the magazine adapted for quick assembly and comprising a hollow rearwardly disposed channel shaped member or component straddled by and carrying a channel shaped sheath or component at the front part thereof, the sheath having a lower rim having a peripheral face adapted to meet the upper peripheral face of the rim of the magazine for limiting the displacement of the cover towards the magazine while the rearwardly disposed channel shaped member embodies transversely spacedlower margins or depending means removably received between and contiguous to the sides of the magazine to limit as previously mentioned upward displacement of the staple strip. Another specific object of the invention is directed to supplementary means to align the front of the sheath with the front transverse wall of the magazine in the provision of a depending tongue on the sheath removably interlocking with the walls of a notched or recessed portion of the front transverse wall of the magazine. Another specific object of the invention is realized in the provision of means to preclude involuntary removal of the helicoidal and 8 spring or elastic connection from the slidably 3. guided follower. Other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter more particularly pointed out and this application is a continuation in part of the application for stapling machines, 8. N. 118,811, filed January 2. 1937.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts as will be exemplified in the improved construction hereinafter described and the scope of the application thereof will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of this invention- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the improved stapling machine according to my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the stapling machine used as a taeker.

Fig. 3 i another perspective view of the stapling machine illustrating the swingable arm thereof partly open to permit ready inspection of the staple strip in the magazine.

retraction of the plunger and thus precluding the admission of a next successive staple within the front vertical raceway.

Fig. 20 shows the blade of the plunger f lly depressed and the shiftable intervenor yieldingly disposed in a locked position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the stapling arm fully opened and the follower at the rear of the magazine to permit loading of staples in the latter.

Fig, 5 is a longitudinal sectional view in elevation of the stapling machine on a larger scale.

Fig. 5' is a transverse sectional view on the line P-S of Fig. 5.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig.

5 however with parts of the base omitted.

Fig. 7 is a broken view in perspective of the staple magazine or box. 7

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of Fig. 7, showing a part of the pivoted latch associated with the base of the stapling machine removably but slid-.

ably interlocked with the magazine.

Fig. 9 is a vertical transverse sectional view on the line 9-9 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line Ill-l0 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional .view on the line lI-ll of Fig. 5.

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view on the line l2-i2 of Fig. 5. 1

Fig. 12 is a sectional il -I2 01' Fig. 12.

Fig. 13 is an exploded view in perspective of the swingable magazine, the rail, and the automatically controlled staple follower block.

Fig. 14 is a perspective exploded view of the cover or housing of the swingable arm.

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the front part of the stapl magazine showing the staple ejecting gap.

Fi 16 is a sectional view taken on the line lB-IG of Fig. 9.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary exploded and perspective view of the forward part of the magazine showing the rail disconnected from the latter.

Figs. 18 to 30 illustrate the stroke control device which in operation precludes the admission of a next successive staple of the staple strip in the vertical raceway when a staple therein has not been previously the plunger and in particular.

Fig. 18 is a longitudinal and fragmentary sectional view of the pivoted arm showing the plunger partly depressed and the intervenor interposed between the fixed mount and the inwardly overhanging stop lip of the reciprocably guided plunger.

Fig, 19 is a view similar to Fig. 18 wherein the plunger has been retracted before a full down view taken on the line ejected by the driving blade of its locking recess of Fig. 21 shows the blade of the plunger fully retracted or returned and above the staple raceway, the intervenor being illustrated yieldingly abutting the stop lip of the plunger and ready to intervene just as soon as the plunger moves downwardly, the stop lip being shown abutting the mount or the support for the intervenor.

Fig. 22 is a side view of Fig. 21 however with a side wall of the sheath thereof removed for purposes of clearness to show the normal position of the intervenor at a time when the plunger is fully up or retracted.

Fig. 23 is a perspective view of the plunger showing the inner stop lip and the rectangularly shouldered driving blade thereof.

Fig. 24 is aperspective view of the channeled shaped mount or support on which the float or intervenor is slidably and pivotally sustained.

Fig. 25 is a fragmentary side view of Fig, 22, showing the intervenor in a non-intervening position when the plunger is in its fully up or normal position.

Fig. 26 shows the intervenor when in an intervening position when the plunger has been depressed slightly as in the caseof Fig. 18.

Fig. 27 shows the intervenor receding, being urged rearwardly by the inclined cam surface of the plunger on the downward stroke thereof and about ready to fall into locking recesses in the fixed mount.

Fig. 28 shows the position of the intervenor in the mount at the completion of the downward stroke of the plunger as in the case of Fig. 20.

Fig. 29 shows the intervenor Just about to be removed by the plunger from the locking recess of the mount at the close of the completion of the full return stroke.

Fig. 30 is a perspective view of the intervenor.

Fig. 31 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line 3l-3l of Fig. 1.

' Fig, 32 is a plan View of the rear end of the plunger raising spring anchored to the rear end of the intervenor mount.

Fig. 33 is a plan view of the butterfly locking latch carried by the closure and utilized to disconnectably interlock with the magazine and Fig. 34 is a transverse sectional view of the magazine when opened and with the hook or spring anchoring member of the follower in alinement with an opening in the rail to permit removal of the spring from the hook.

Illustrative of the embodiment disclosed, the

, stapling machine generally denoted l0, comprises,

a base II, and a pivoted arm l2 which includes;

a staple box or magazine l3, a staple carrying rail H, a staple follower IS, a magazine cover or closure IS in the form of a housing comprising a pair of overlapped rear and front channel Slidably mounted on base u is an anvil l3 embodying spaced clinching indentations 23 for temporary fastening of staples 2| of the staple strip 22 and the elongated clinching indentation 23 for permanent anchoring of the staples.

The anvil I9 is provided with serrations 24 on its sides to facilitate grippin thereof where it is desired to shift the same longitudinally of the base II for permanent or temporary fastening of the staples as is well understood.

Fixedly anchored to the shiftable anvil is a channel shaped flanged member 25 (see Figs. and 5), comprising a boss 25 slidably guided in elongated slot 21 of the base Bos 26 is provided with a downwardly extending struck out medially arranged curved projection 28 which cooperates with a companion curved stud or stop 29 secured at the forward end of a relatively elongated flat spring 33 having its intermediate part anchored by a rivet 3| secured to the base.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 5 the staple clinching anvil is set against the forward transverse abutment end of slot 21 of the base. In such relation, elongated indentation 23 cooperates with the driving blade of the plunger to bend the legs of the staple for permanent fastening. Curved stud 23 however cooperates with projection 28 to lock the anvil against accidental slidable rearward displacement relative to slot 21 of the base.

For temporary fastening of the staples, the anvil may be readily slidably shifted rearwardly to place spaced indentations 20 in alinement with the blade of the driver. In this connection the serrated sides of the anvil are grasped and urged rearwardly, thus snapping or riding projection 23 over the stop or stud 29 and the rear end of boss 26 abuts the rear transverse end of slot 21. On this operation post 29 first moves downwardly thus flexing fore part of the flat spring 30 which in effect is a cantilever beam. After projection 28 has cleared the stud 23, the latter is automatically raised by the leaf spring33 and now prevents accidental slidable displacement of the anvil towards the front of the base. When the anvil is shifted the transverse ends of slot 2'! cooperate with the transverse ends of the boss 26 to automatically dispose either the temporary clinching indentations or the permanent clinching indentation in vertical alinement with the staple raceway of the swingable arm.

Seated on and retained by the rear end of flat spring 30 is a pivoted swingable clearing latch 32 (see Figs. 2, 5, 8, l2 and 12 having the inwardly turned lips or, lugs 33 of the upstanding wings 31 retained in slots 33 of spring 33. The latch is in the form of a bell crank lever comprising a, T-shaped head 35 and the manipulator 36 from which wings 31 extend and these wings comprise rounded ears 38 pivotally or tiltably held by spring 30 against the bottom face of the base H as shown in Fig. 5, the latch 32 being interposed between and swingably guided by spaced flanges 36' depending from and transversely of the base.

The lower vertical part of latch 32 is loosely disposed in the vertical opening 39 of the base II and its T-shaped head 35 may be conveniently and removably arranged to interlock with the bottom wall of the magazine I3 which includes an enlarged opening 40 communicating with reduced slot 4| defined by spaced shoulders 42 in the bottom wall of the magazine.

In Figs. 5 and 12, the latch 32 is shown inter- 6 such relation, lugs 42 are disposed in slots 12' of the T-shaped head 35. Therefore the latch is interlocked with the magazine and the action of spring 33 is such as to maintain such interlocking relationship and hence the swingable arm l2 cannot be swung rearwardly in respect to the base although the arm may be swung downwardly when the plunger I3 is depressed. During such time shoulders or lugs 42 abut shoulders 43' of the latch 32 causing the latter to move downwardly and flex the rear end of the spring 30 and upon removal of manual pressure on the head of the plunger after its downward stroke, spring 30 releaes its energy, causing shoulders 3' to raise lugs 42 of the magazine and hence the latter is automatically elevated.

To disconnect the latch from the magazine, manipulator 36 is moved upwardly toward the upper wall of the base, thus causing the bell crank latch 32 to rock or pivot on the rounded ears 38 which pivot against the base and against the resistance of spring 33, and thus the head 35 of the latch is moved forwardly or out of reduced opening 4! and into enlarged opening 40 of the magazine. Consequently the rockable latch is disconnected from the magazine and the pivoted base may be swung rearwardly in respect to the arm to assume the position shown in Fig. 2. However after the arm is disconnected from the latch and manual pressure is removed from manipulator 36 thereof, spring 33 shifts the T- shaped head rearwardly until limited by the rear wall of slot 39 which serves as a stop.

However the pivoted arm and latch may be readily and automatically interlocked. This is accomplished by swinging the arm towards the base. Eventually the inclined lip M strikes shoulders 42. This action causes the bell crank latch 32 to bodily pivot, causing its T-shaped head to be moved forwardly and enter enlarged opening 40 while manipulator 36 is moved upwardly causing spring 30 to flex. When the T- shaped head is sufllciently projected into opening 40, slots 52 thereof ultimately line up with lugs 42 and at this time spring 30 hitherto flexed, releases, and automatically the T-shaped head moves rearwardly and interlocks with lugs 42 while the manipulator 36 automatically moves downwardly and in a direction away from the top wall of the base.

The hollow magazine I3 may be considered as a box or a shoe having its longitudinal channel facing upwardly. It is a one piece rectangularly shaped member as shown in Figs. 7 and 13. It includes the bottom wall 45, front wall 46, upstanding sides =4l having upstanding wings, keepers or cam means 48, rearwardly disposed perforated ears 49, and an upwardly bent rear wall 50 containing the elongated rectangular slot 5|.

The bottom wall 45 of the magazine includes the spaced elongated positioning slots 5| (see Figs. 13, 15, 16 and 17) and the U -shaped opening 52 defining a transverse slot 53 and the communicating longitudinally disposed slots 54. Appropriate- Lv positioned within the magazine is the U- shaped staple supporting rail [4 which includes spaced depending sides 56 having depending lugs 51 and 58 while the rear end of the rail is provided with an overhanging lug Ii slidably mounted on the rail is the inverted U- shaped follower block l5 having its depending sides 53 slidably straddling the sides 56 of the rail. The depending sides 63 of the follower or locked with the bottom wall of the magazine. In follower block l5 each comprise an inwardly turned lug 64 cooperating with lower parts of the sides 56 of the rail (see Fig. 12) to prevent removal of the follower from the rail after assembly. By this arrangement the follower block I is interlocked with the rail 14 although movable longitudinally thereof.

In assembling, the follower or pusher I5 is first placed on the rail and the latter is arranged within the staple box or magazine. In this connection, the rear lug 6| is first placed into the closely fitting elongated slot 5| in the rear wall of the magazine. Hence the rail is positioned transversely and vertically in respect to the magazine. The front part of the rail is now dropped, causing lugs 58 to fall into and project slightly beyond the correspondingly shaped positioning openings SI of the bottom wall 45 after which lugs 58 are slightly upset to permanently fasten the rail. Therefore the rail is now properly positioned longitudinally. of the magazine. In such relation lugs 5'! of the sides '56- of rail l4 are within the slots 54 of the U-shaped gap 52 and straddle lip 68 of the bottom wall 45 of the rail.

Therefore the forward transverse face 61 (see Fig. 16) of the rail is spaced from the rear transverse face 68 of the front wall 46 of the magazine, forming a vertically disposed transverse gap or staple raceway or driveway 69 for guiding a single staple 2| of the staple strip 22 downwardly to be ultimately free of the magazine. It should be noted however (see Figs. 9 and 31) that the sides 56 of the rail are spaced from sides 41 of the magazine, thus forming the longitudinally disposed staple strip'guide'sub-channels or slots 10 which are in communication with the vertically disposed and transverse raceway or guideway 69.

The swingable arm 12 for purposes of specification may be considered as comprising complementary components characterized by the magazine i3 and the hollow cover l5'.' These components have their rear ears 49 and 'H (see Figs. 13 and 14) hingedly or pivotally supported on the transverse fulcrum pin 43 carried by the rear curved perforated ears 12' of base ll. Ears I2 of the base straddle perforated ears 49 of the magazine and the latter straddles ears H of the streamline fuselage or. channel shaped member IS of' the closure l5. In the particular instance illustrated, it will be appreciated that closure 15' for the magazine may be swung relative to the magazine on fulcrum pin 43 and accordingly the swingable arm l2 may be opened as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. In such relation, all the staples within the magazine are accessible and may be readily observed. With this advantage, if the suppiyof staples within the magazine has become exhausted, a new staple strip may be readily supplied. If on the other hand, a staple of the strip is improperly deformed, it may be readily removed. If the staple raceway is clogged, the clogging staples can be easily seen and removed even by the most unskilled operator. By the present arrangement, the source of trouble due to improper guiding of staples in the staple channel and raceway may be readily determined and easily corrected. This is an important feature of the invention.

The swingable or hinged cover I5 is in effect a housing for concealing the staples within the magazine. As previously stated this cover or closure comprises the rearwardly disposed U- shaped member or fuselage l6 having its channel facing downwardly while the sheath I! of the cover I! is also a U-shaped member having its vertical channel facin rearwardly.

Channeled shaped member l6 embodies a pleasingly curved upper gradually sloping wall 12 having depending sides I3 each having a perforation I5, an elongated slot 16, an overhanging perforated lug 11' comprising a curved stop 18. Sheath I! of the cover l5 has its sides straddling and fastened to sides 13 and includes the transverse wall 8| having a rectangular shaped depending ing 14 adapted to be received in a correspondingly shaped recess 14' in the front wall 46 of the magazine whereby cover IS the latter is properly centered and positioned in respect to the magazine.

Fixedly mounted within the rear channel member I6 is a mount generally denoted 82 (see Figs. 5, l8 and 24). This mount is of inverted U shape and embodies a top wall 83 having depending sides 84, a rear transverse slot or opening 85 having reentrant cut out portion 85', a stepped I shaped opening 8'I,'alined openings 88; the perforated depending ears 89, the upstanding lug 90, and the laterally extending positioning or spacing lugs 90.

With mount 82 arranged within channel shaped member or rear part l6 of the hinged magazine cover or closure I5, alined openings 88 thereof are in alinement and register with alined openings 15 in the depending sides 13 of fuselage or casing it of the cover l5. Also alined openings 9| in the ears 89 of the mount are in registration with alined openings 92 of the forwardly arranged stop lugs 11 of the fuselage or casing l6 and at the proper time pins 93 and 94 are positioned in these alined openings of the mount 82 and the casing It as well as alined openings 93' and alined openings 94' of sheath I! to fixedly anchor the mount in the casing l6 and sheath I! to the latter as is well understood.

' When the mount 82 is anchored to the channel shaped member or casing IS, the forward portions of the sides 84 thereof overhang the forward part of the channeled member 16 (see Fig. 22). The sides 84 of the mount at the forward overhanging portions thereof are slidably straddled by the spaced sides 95 of the U-shaped plunger l8, that is, the sides 84 of the mount serve to vertically guide-the plunger I8. Also the front transverse faces 98 (see Figs. 14 and 22) of the overhanging stop lugs 11 of rear channeled member it together with the rear transverse face 99 of the front wall 8| of sheath I1 constitute a transverse vertical gap above but in alinement with the vertical staple raceway 69 to closely but slidably guide the lower part of the staple driving blade 96, thus preventing flexing of or distorting of the latter.

According to the invention a. stroke control deviceis provided for the plunger to prevent the latter from fully retracting unless the blade thereof has first concluded a complete down stroke. To this end, attention is directed to the float or intervenor [00 shown in perspective in Fig. 30, in section in Figs. 18-22, and in side elevation in Figs. 25 to 29. At this time attention is also directed to the inwardly overhanging pro- .iection lfll carried by plunger Hi, the alined notches I02 of the mount 82, and the alined notches I03 of the latter formed by the stepped transverse opening- 81 therein (see Fig. 24). These alined notches I02 and M3 in the sides of the mount 82 form spaced vertical shoulders I04 and IE5 and define alined but spaced steps I06. The intervenor I00, projection I ill of the plunger,

in closing of the the stepped transverse opening 81 of the mount and the helicoidal spring I'I which has its ends connected to the lug 00 of the fixed mount 82 and to the upstanding tail I08 of the intervenor constitute the stroke control device.

As shown, the intervenor comprises an elongated rectangularly shaped body having laterally extending lugs I03. Tail I08 extends upwardly and is slidably guided in rectangular opening 88 in the upper wall 83 of the mount 82.

In the normal or fully raised position of the plunger I8, lugs I09 of the intervenor slightly overhang and are seated on the alined steps I08 of the mount and are spaced from vertical alined shoulders I04 which are flush with alined vertical faces IIO of the sides 95 of the plunger. Shoulders I00 and vertical faces IIO form stop means to limit forward movement of the lugs I09 of the intervenor I00 when the plunger is partly depressed.

' When the plunger is fully raised, projection IOI (see Fig. 21) is against the upper wall 83 of mount 82 and hence the plunger cannot be further raised. This is the normal raised position of the plunger. In this relation intervenor I00 is yieldingly abutting projection 'IOI, and the lugs I08 of the intervenor I00 although seated on steps I05, are spaced from stop shoulders I04 and H0 (see Figs. 11, 21, 22 and 25).

When however the plunger is slightly depressed, the intervenor I00 automatically slidably travels into the gap formed between upper wall 83 of the mount 82 and projection I M of the plunger (see Fig. 18) due to the action of the normally expanded spring I01. In this particular instance, lugs I09 of the intervenor I00 abut alined shoulders or stop faces I00 and H0 (see Fig. 26)

If before the completion of a full down stroke of the plunger, the latter is retracted, intervenor I00 prevents full retraction thereof (see Fig. 19), that is, in this relation, the lower part of the staple driving blade 95 serves as a closure preventing the next successive staple of the staple strip 22 to enter within the vertical raceway 80. But where a. full down. stroke has been made a full return stroke thereof may be consummated. In this connection, it will be observed that sides 95 of the plunger I8 are provided with alined inclined faces III for actuating lugs I08 of the intervenor which overhang the sides 84 of the mount 82, causing the intervenor to move bodily rearwardly or recede during the descent of the plunger.

Towards the completion of the downward stroke of the plunger (see Figs. 20 and 28), overhanging lugs I09 of the intervenor have been moved rearwardly and past the alined steps I of the mount and into alined recesses I03 thereof, thus yieldingly abutting vertical and alined stop faces I05 of the sides of the mount and are thus held due to the expansion of spring I01. Thus locked the forward end of the intervenor is out of the path of projection I0! (see Fig.

In accordance with the invention the plunger is automatically raised or retracted after each complete down stroke thereof. For this purpose an elongated metal leaf spring H2 is utilized. This leaf spring II2 has its upper end abutting lugs II3 struck out of the sides of plunger I8 while its lower end is provided with a reduced portion II4 defining a T-shaped head II5 (see Fig. 32) comprising lugs |I5 cooperating with ends III of the sides 84 of the mount to prevent longitudinal displacement of spring H2 in one direction while shoulders II8 cooperate withthe rear vertical side of opening in. the mount to prevent longitudinal displacement of the spring H2 in an opposite direction. By the present arrangement it is apparent that the lower end of the spring is interlocked with the mount and may be readily attached to or disconnected therefrom if desired and to facilitate assembly of spring H2 and the mount the latter includes the reentrant opening 85' providing an extension of opening 85 whereby spring II2 may be readily inserted into the latter to dispose lugs H6 at the rear of sides 84 thereof while lip 86' (see Fig. 5) serves as a bearing for the spring I I2.

Referring back to the stroke control device, if the plunger I8 has made a complete downward stroke, the intervenor I00 is in a locked position as shown in Figs. 20 and 28. With manual pressure removed from the resilient head I20 attached to the plunger I8, leaf spring II2 automatically raises the latter. Therefore towards the close of its up stroke shoulders I.2I of sides of the plunger I8 strike the overhanging lugs I00 of the intervenor I00 lifting these lugs I09 out of the alined transverse recess I03 to clear alined steps I06 (see Fig. 29) but only after projection IOI has about reached upper wall 83 of the mount. When however lugs I 09 clear steps I00, spring I0'I contracts, thus bodily moving the intervenor I00 forwardly and the forward part thereof yieldingly abuts the back or rear wall I23 of projection IOI (see Fig. 21) or in other words the lugs I09 of the intervenor are in the position shown in Figs. 22 and 25, in the normal or fully raised position of the plunger.

Downward vertical displacement of the plunger I0 is limited by sheath II, that is, the elongated plate I28 fixedly attached to the top of the plunger or ram I8 to which the recessed and grooved resilient or rubber head or cushion I20 is disconnectably secured, strikes the upper part of the sheath or front part I! of the cover I5 (see Fig. 20) thus distributing and absorbing the force caused by such impact over a relatively.

wide area and in such relation reinforcing lugs I0 are slightly spaced from the curved notches I25 in the sides of the plunger (see Fig. 20). With the cover unlocked or unlatched from the magazine and in the position illustrated in Fig. 4, resilient head I20 is against the supporting surface I20 which may be a desk or other suitable support and therefore the latter is prevented from being marred or scratched.

It has been previously pointed out that the arm I2 comprises a staple magazine I3 and a swlngable cover or closure I5 therefor. These parts may be quickly swingably separated and may be readily closed. If in a closed relation and it is desired to swing the cover away from the magazine, a slidable latch generally denoted I30 is first manipulated to unlock the cover from the magazine.

This latch I30 is slidably arranged in the alined openings 16 in the spaced sides 13 of the channel member or back part I6 of the cover. Latch I 30 isalso slidably guided in the horizontally and transversely alined slots I32 in the spaced sides 80 of sheath I'I. When-channel member I8 is telescoped and set within the front sheath I'I, slots I32 are in alinement with the elongated openings I6 in the spaced sides 13 thereof.

As shown, the intermediate rear curved faces I33 of the spaced sides 80 of the sheath I! are complementary to the front but transverse cam faces I34 of the spaced wings 48 of the magazine 11 I3. When the cover faces I33 and I34 are disposed in close proximity and sides 80 of the "sheath I! are flush with thespaced wings or keepers of the magazine.

The curved cam faces I34 of wings 48 howwalls of the alined' slots IS in sides I3 of casing I5 is a transversely disposed shaft I38 supporting roller or wheel I38 which in. part is received by the'central reentrant recess I40 in the body of the manipulatable latch I30 which includes the spaced notches, I4I defining rear lip I42. The sides of recess I40 are formed by the spaced lugs I43 integral with the body of latch I30 and these lugs I43 are spaced from the .outer portions of wings I3I to form spaced notches I44 -(see Figs. 6 and 33).

As shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6, the cover I5 is latched or locked to the.- notched wings 48 of the magazine I3. In this relation, spaced parts or shoulders as I 45 of latch I30 are received by notches I35 of the wings 48 of the magazine and interlock therewith thus preventing accidental hinged separation of the cover relative to the is closed complementary.

-. mit coils I52 12 of the follower block is lined up with openin I55 (see Fig. 34) at which time only the terminal I54 of hook I53 is sufllciently accessible to perto be removably mounted or threaded on the terminal of the hook. After such operation the follower is moved away from opening I55 and hence coils I52 are prevented from being accidentally removed from hook I54 since the terminal of the hook and the top wall of the rail provide an insuflicient gap to prevent removal of coils I52 unless of course the follower is so that the hook is deliberately over opening With the cover I5 of the arm I2 opened as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the latch I is retracted and consequentlyshoulders I45 of latch I 30 abut the rear vertical transverse of the openings I6 in the faces I56 (see Fig. 14) sides I3 of the casing or fuselage I 6.

notches I35 and hence the latch magazine; In the interlocked relation of the cover and magazine lip I42 is between the sides of casing I6and transverse walls of notches I4I abut the transverse wall of the notches I35 in I wings 48. In such position latch sidered retracted.

If the slidable latch I3II be interlocked with the magazine it is prevented from accidentally unlocking by the cocked helicoidal spring or connection I50 trained over the roller or pulley I38 and has one end retained by lug I5I struck out of a, side 13 of the channeled member or casing I 30 may be con- I5 and has its other end I52 anchored to the curved eye or hook I53 struck out of the follower block I5. If therefore the cover 'or closure I5 is latched to the magazine it Is held in such 11:- lation until latch I30 is grasped at the manipulatable and overhanging wings I 3I and slidably moved towards the front of. .the machine, thus projections or lugs I43 of slidable latch I30 strike the. ends of shaft I38 thus: ,slidably and bodily moving the latter in the alihed guide slot I5 in a similar direction. It follows that the roller I35 is correspondingly displaced and the spring I50 is distended. This operation however causes the latch to become free of openings I35 of the wings 48 of a the magazine and accordingly the cover may .be swung away from the magazine and thus the staple arm is separated and full access is had to the staple supporting rail or to the staple strip within the magazine. ever that after latch I30 has been unlocked from the magazine and finger pressure against wings I 3I' is removed, spring I50 automatically retracts the latch I30.

Again referring to follower block I5 (see Figs. 5, 6 and 34),the hook or retaining member I53 is struck out of the top wall thereof and, is provided with curved sides I53 to prevent shearing of the several coils I52 of the end I52 of spring I 50 and to prevent accidental disconnection'of coils I52, the free terminal or nose I54 of hook I 53 is slightly spaced from the adjacent upper face of the rail. However to attach oolis I52 to hook I53, the cover I5 is raised and the nose I54 It should be observed how-' Therefore shoulders I are in the path of the curved cam faces I34 of the upstanding Whigs 48 of the magazine when the cover I5 is swung to a closing position and accordingly these cam faces I34 constitute means for actuating latch I30 bodily forwardly until shoulders I45 of the latchare in alinement with notches I35 of wings 40. Thereupon spring I automatically retracts latch I30- causing shoulders I 45 to fall into I30 is interlocked with the wings 48 at a time when the cover is closed in respect to the magazine.

By the present arrangement, to open the cover, the operator simply moves latch I30 forwardly out of wings 48 of the magazine and the cover is swung rearwardly on fulcrum pin 43. It follows that the cover I5 may be swung to the position shown in Fig. 3 to inspect the staples in the magazine to determine if there be any ,deformed staples therein or the cover may be further swung away from the magazine as illustrated in Fig. 4 to permit loading of the latter at which time the resilient head or cushion I20 of the plunger I8 lies against a suitable supporting surface, such as,

v the top surface of a desk or the like. Orin other latter. The spaced rubber feet I secured to base II cooperate to prevent scratching of the supportingsurface. With the cover as shown in Fig. 4 it should be noted that the staple follower I5 is at the rear of the staple supporting rail I4, or fully retracted. In Fig. 3, follower I5 is not fully retracted.

Where the magazine is interlocked with the swingable latch 32 and the cover is swung rearwardly, lugs 45 (see Fig. 12) of latch 32 cooperate with the shoulders 42 of the bottom wall 45 of the magazine to limit appreciable upward pivotal displacement of the latter. It follows that although the magazine is held in a desired raised position by spring 30 the rail thereof is fully accessible to permit loading of staples, that is a strip of staples, thereon as is evident upon inspection of Fig. 4.

When the cover is closed, wings 48 automatically actuatethe butterfly latch I30 to bodily shift or slide the latter forwardly until this latch reaches notches I35 of the wings and spring or elastic connection I50 retracts the latch I30, thus the latter disconnecta-bly interlocks with the magazine, however, at this time the bottom peripheral face l6l of sheath I1 is against and seated on the upper .horizontal faces I82 of the magazine and lower margins l 63 of spaced sides 13 of the fuselaged channel shaped member or back of the cover 15' project downwardly beyond the sheath I1 or front part of cover It and are telescopically but removably received between sides 41 of the magazine 13 (see Figs. 9 and 31), and in effect, the upper peripheral face I62 of the magazine serves as a stop to limit downward displacement of the cover and also serves to absorb and distribute the impact of the cover in closing but the lower margin I63 is slightly above the staple strip 22 and hence casing l6 serves to prevent upward displacement of the staples mounted on the staple supporting rail.

During closing of the cover l of the swingable arm I2, the action of spring I50 causes the follower l5 to slidably and automatically move forwardly, thus urging a forward staple 2| of the staple strip 22 to be disposed within the vertical raceway 69 but just below the squared corner shoulders 91 of the driving blade 96 of the plunger 18 in the normally raised position of the latter as illustrated in Figs. 5 and 21. If the plunger be depressed the swingable arm I2 is pivoted downwardly on pin 43 and the staple raceway 69 lines up with either clinching indentation 23 if the anvil has heretofore been adjusted for permanent fastening or with the spaced clinching indentations 20 if the anvil is adjusted for temporary fastening. a

Where one staple is in racewayi-j 69, another staple of the staple strip cannot be admitted due to the action of the stroke device which prevents complete retraction of the stapledriving blade whereby the lower portion of the latter serves as a closure preventing the admission of a next successive staple of the staple strip to enter the raceway 69 until .the driven staple within the raceway is ejected therefrom (see Fig. 19). At the completion of the full down stroke of the plunger squared projections 91 cooperate with the corners of a staple in the raceway 69 and with the aid of the anvil the legs of the staple are deformed for clinching purposes as is well understood.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the pivoted clearing latch 32 is free of or unlocked from the magazine and the base has been swung approximately one hundred and eighty degrees in respect to the arm. In such relation, the arm of the machine is utilized as a tacker since no clinching anvil is required. The base ll 'however may be readily swung to be underneath the arm as shown in Fig. 1. During such operation the swingable latch 32 automatically interlocks with the magazine which may be disconnected from latch 32 by manually actuating manipulator 36 to free head 35 thereof and hence the arm l2 may be swung away from the base.

Comparing the present embodiment with stapling machines of the prior art, it is important to note thatwith prior art stapling machines the latter possessed an inherent functional and structural defect in the matter of the arrangement of the several members defining the walls of the front vertical staple raceway, which defect caused in actual practice, large variations in size or control of dimensions of the raceway. With the prior art machines, the dimensions of the raceway were difiicult to control due to the springing and yielding of the parts of the raceway under load. Broadly speaking many parts having numerous controlling dimensions were fabricated and assembled to form the staple raceway walls and in the manufacture, the difficulties arising in maintaining the accuracy of the numerous controlling dimensions of the several parts resulted in the practical impossibility in maintaining the necessary accuracy of the raceway.

Attempts had been made hitherto to provide in stapling machines of the prior art a more effective raceway by utilizing a U-shaped housing at the front end of the machine having the inner face of the transverse wall thereof forming the front guide face of the plunger and the front wall of the raceway. But even in these types of constructions control in manufacture in respect to dimensions of the raceway has been difficult.

As previously pointed out, the raceway of the magazine of the present construction is formed by a front transverse wall of a U-shaped box or shoe drawn out in a single operation in sheet metal and by the front transverse wall of an in- 4 verted U-shaped rail while the longitudinal guide channel for the staple strip is formed by the spaced sides of the magazine and the sides of the rail therein.

In this type of construction, the width of the staple raceway 69 is automatically controlled by reason of the positioning lugs 58 falling closely within thecooperating slots 5| in the magazine, that is, the rail is positioned transversely and longitudinally of the magazine by relatively simple means to provide the proper width of the raceway.

Hitherto the stapling machines of the prior art in so far as I am aware were so called "front or rear staple loaders. In these types if the staple strip was locked in the longitudinal staple channel it was at times impossible to remove the locked staples without knocking down the machine. Usually an inexperienced office operator has not sufficient skill to disassemble the machine to remove the wedged or locked staples in the staple strip channel. Hence the machine was sent to the factory to be knocked down to remove the locked staple strip. This practice led to inconvenience and always is a source of annoyance. The present invention overcomes this difiiculty whereby even an unskilled operator may readily determine where the locked or wedged staples in the magazine are by simply un1ocking and swinging the cover away from the magazine. Thus having full access to the staple strip, the troublesome or wedged staple may be quickly removed by a finger nail file or the like, that is, according to the present invention, the swingable arm of the stapling machine is split to pro vide a staple magazine and cover therefor whereby these members may be separated to permit convenient loading of the magazine or to determine where any wedged staples may be present for ready removal thereof since access may be had to the vertical raceway and the entire staple strip, see for example Figs. 3 and 4.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a staple follower which is interlocked with the rail and thus cannot after assembly be damaged by the user due to accidental removal therefrom. Further advantages are the novel butterfly latch for properly alining and locking the cover with the magazine, the provision of cocked spring I50 which has many important functions, to wit, one in automatically actuating the follower upon movement of the cover relative been manually or automatically forwardly dis- I placed, three, in precluding the need of manual control of the follower and hence obviating telescoping of the staple strip due to snapping of the follower on the part of the operator.

With the cover l open, the follower is at the rear of the rail. When closed. cocked spring I50 imparts a forwardly directed force on the slidable follower and the latter imparts adequate pressure on the staple strip to permit the foremost staple thereof to be arranged in the vertical raceway ,69. In closing of the cover, however, pressure is applied by spring I50 gradually and progressively to the follower to prevent an appreciable or abrupt impact against the staple strip which otherwise causes telescoping of the staple strip as is well apparent.

As previously set forth the hollow magazine I3 is an open box and the transversely spaced side walls 41 and the front transverse wall 46 thereof in fact define a rim having the upper peripheral face I62 (Figs. 13 and 31) while the elongated channel is defined by the bottom wall 45, the front wall 46, sides 41 of the magazine and the rear wall 50, and the rail I4 is appropriately disposed below the upper rim of the magazine. Consequently the front transverse wall 46, that is, the immovably sustained means relative to the magazine extends above the elevation of the rail to prevent spillage of the staple strip forwardly of the raceway 89. This front wall 46 also limits the displacement of the staple strip towards the front part of the magazine. The upstanding wings or keepers 48 may also be considered as abutment means for the spring controlled movably guided means or latch I30 which yieldingly bears against the cam faces 134 on closing of the magazine until this latch automatically snaps into the alined notches I35.

Furthermore it will be appreciated that on the downward stroke of the plunger the impact thereof is transmitted by its elongated upper plate or ram head I26 to the upper rim of sheath 1 (see Fig. 20) and through the latter vertically downwardly to the magazine, and to the anvil, however, without affecting or varying the size, or transverse and longitudinal dimension of the vertical staple raceway or the staple strip channel and as shown, the former, to wit, the staple raceway being only slightly higher than the height of a staple. In other words, the force transmitted by the ram head I26 against the sheath H or front channeled component is transmitted downwardly to the front wall of the magazine and to the anvil.

However the compressive stresses set up in sheath l1 and the magazine are not transmitted to the rear component iii of the cover and since component l6 constitutes with the magazine and the rail therein, the staple strip guide channel, the original and desired dimensions of the latter remain the same and are not disturbed through abusive handling of the driver. It is also apparent that the original width of the staple raceway also remains intact since the stresses imparted to the front'wall of the magazine are vertically downwardly on each down stroke of the driver even though the latter in use is abused.

As many changes could be made in the above described embodiment and many apparently widely different embodiments of the invention could be devised without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the 16 accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a stapling machine, an elongated magazine, a. staple supporting rail therein, a cover, a hinged connection between said cover and magazine at the rear ends thereof, said cover adapted to be swung rearwardly away from said magazine substantially beyond a plane normal to the longitudinal axis of said magazine and passing said hinged connection to permit full access to the staples on said rail longitudinally of the latter, said I cover adapted to be swung towards and against said magazine to close the latter, and driving means carried by said cover for ejecting a staple from said magazine.

2. In a stapling machine, a substantially horizontally disposed base, an arm comprising a magazine, a rail disposed in said magazine for slidably substantially horizontally disposed guiding staples, a hollow member extending longitudinally of said magazine and in superimposed relation therewith, said magazine and member having a connection at the rear ends thereof and constituting means to permit the front part of said member to be swung upwardly and rearwardly into a vertical plane passing through the axis of said connection and rearwardly beyond said plane, said connection also constituting means to permit said member to be swung towards and against said magazine to close the latter, and releasable latch means between said magazine and member for disconnectably locking both of the latter.

3. In a top loading stapling machine, a magazine, a rail. therein adapted to support one or more staples, a housing for covering the top face of said rail, means hingedly connecting said housing to said magazine, and interlocking means for positioning said rail relative to said magazine comprising spaced means depending from said rail and correspondingly spaced openings in said magazine to receive said depending means.

4. In a stapling machine, a magazine having a front transversely arranged wall, a rail for supporting staples and disposed within said magazine and spaced from said wall to define a'staple raceway, a cover member substantially coextensive with the length of said magazine and in superimposed relation therewith, means hingedly connecting said member and magazine at the rear ends thereof, movable latch means carried by said member, said magazine having keeper means for displacing said latch means during pivotal displacement of said member towards said magazine, means to limit pivotal displacement of said member towards said magazine, spring means for urging said latch means to automatically and disconnectably interlock with said keeper means towards the completion of pivotal displacement of said member towards said magazine, said magazine and cover member having transversely spaced marginal portions closely but removaly disposed in straddling relation to aline said cover member relative to said magazine towards the completion of said pivotal displacement of said member towards said magazine but prior to said interlocking of said keeper means and said movable latch means, and driving means carried by said member for ejecting a staple through said raceway and out of said magazine in the closed relation of the latter and said member.

5. In combination, a staple magazine, a rail disposed longitudinally thereof for supporting a staple strip, a cover member substantially coextensive with the length of said magazine and in superimposed relation therewith, means hingedly connecting said member and magazine at the rear ends thereof, separable interlocking means to automatically aline said member relative to said magazine upon closing of said magazine by said member, said rail and magazine defining a vertical raceway adapted to receive the foremost staple of said strip, reciprocable means for driving said foremost staple through said raceway and out of said magazine, movable latch means carried by said member, a follower having means slidably guided by said rail, and spring means connected to said member and follower and cooperating to normally use said latch means towards the rear of said member and cause said latch means to automatically interlock with said magazine upon closing of the latter by said membet.

6. In combination, a staple magazine, a rail disposed longitudinally thereof for supporting a staple strip, a follower mounted on said rail, means for slidably interlocking said follower on said rail, a cover member substantially coextensive with the length of said magazine and in superimposed relation therewith, means hingedly connecting said member and magazine at the rear ends thereof, said rail and magazine defining a vertical raceway adapted to receive the foremost staple of said strip, means for driving said foremost staple through said raceway and out of said magazine, a spring cooperating with said driving means to automatically retract the latter pursuant to a driving stroke thereof, and spring means cooperating with said follower to shift the latter relative to said rail during movement of said member towards or away from said magazine.

7. In a stapling machine. an elongated magazine, a. relatively elongated cover comprising separate channeled members defining an elongated housing, a staple supporting rail arranged in said magazine and defining therewith a vertical raceway, a follower block slidably interlocking with said rail, means hingedly connecting said magazine and cover whereby said cover may be swung relative to said magazine to permit inspection or removal of said staples on or from said rail, and means responsive to the movement of said cover for shifting said follower in a direction towards or away from said raceway.

8. In combination. an elongated magazine. a cover comprising separate channeled members defining an elongated housing, a staple supporting rail arranged in said magazine and definin therewith a vertical raceway, means hingedly connecting rear portions of said magazine and cover whereby said cover may be swung relative to said magazine to permit inspection or removal of said staples on or from said rail, said cover being substantially coextensive with the length of said magazine and adapted to be swung to a superimposed relation in respect to said magazine to close the latter, and latch means for disconnectably locking said cover and magazine.

9. In combination, an elongated magazine, a cover comprising separate channeled members defining an elongated housing, a staple supporting rail arranged in said magazine and defining therewith a vertical raceway, means hingedly connecting said magazine and cover at the rear ends thereof whereby said cover may be swung away from an towards the rear of said magazine to permit inspection or removal of said staples on or from said rail, said cover adapted to be swung to a superimposed relation in respect to said magazine to close the latter, shiftable means 18 carried by said cover, said magazine having cam means for actuating said shiftable mean during closing of said magazine-by said cover, and said magazine having means adapted to interlock with said shiftable means to prevent accidental separation of said cover and magazine.

10. In combination, an arm comprising a magazine, a rail therein adapted to support a staple strip, a follower slidably interlocked with said rail, a cover hinged to said magazine and substantially coextensive with the length thereof, spring means interconnecting said cover and follower, said cover adapted to be superimposed in respect to said magazine to close the latter, said spring means upon closing of said magazine by said cover automatically moving said follower forwardly to urge said staple strip forwardly, and means for locking said cover upon closing of said magazine thereby.

11. In combination, an arm comprising a magazine, arail therein adapted to support a staple strip, a follower slidably interlocked with said rail, a cover hinged to said magazine and substantially coextensive with the length thereof. spring means interconnecting said cover and follower, said cover adapted to be superimposed in respect to said magazine to close the latter, said spring means upon closing of said cover automatically moving said follower forwardly to urge said staple strip forwardly, and means for locking said cover upon closing thereof, said locking means comprising shiftable means adapted to be actuated by said magazine upon closing thereof by said cover but against the resistance of said spring means, said magazine having means for receiving a part of said shiftable means to interlock with the latter.

12. In combination, a staple magazine, a staple supporting rail mounted in said magazine and having an opening, a follower slidably mounted on said rail and having means interlocking therewith and including a retaining member, a. cover hinged to said magazine for closing the latter, and spring means connected to said cover and follower and having one end mounted on said retaining member, said retaining member and rail cooperating to prevent removal of said end from said member during displacement of said follower relative to said rail, said member and opening when in alinement permitting removal of said end from said member.

13. In combination, a magazine, a rail therein and adapted to support staples, a follower slidably mounted on said rail, and a cover comprising a rearparthing dtosaidmagazine andafront part in overlapping relation in respect to said rear part, said rear part extendin below said front part to provide lower marginal portions adapted to be removably received by said magazine to prevent upward displacement of said staples.

14. In combination, a base, a staple clinching anvil shiftable longitudinally of said base, an arm swingably connected to said base, a spring, a latch carried by said spring and adapted to interlock with said arm, and means carried by said spring adapted to cooperate with said anvil to hold the latter in a set position- 15. In a stapling machine, an elongated magazine, a staple carrying rail in said magazine, fulcrum means at the rear end of said magazine, a cover substantially coextensive with the length of said magazine and having rearwardly disposed and depending means rotatably mounted on said fulcrum means to permit said cover to be rotated upwardly and rearwardly beyond a plane substantially normal to said magazine and containing the axis of said fulcrum means to permit full access to said rail, and a releasable locking connection between said cover and magazine.

16. In a stapling machine, an elongated magazine, a staple carrying rail in said magazine, fulcrum means at the rear end of said magazine, a cover substantially coextensive with the length of said magazine and having rearwardly disposed and depending means rotatably mounted on said fulcrum means to permit said cover to be rotated upwardly and rearwardly beyond a plane substantially normal to said magazine and passing through the axis of said fulcrum means to permit full access to said rail, a follower slidably guided on said rail, and spring means connected to said follower and cover to automatically shift said follower rearwardly upon opening of said magazine by said cover.

17. In a, stapling machine, an elongated magazine, a staple carrying rail in said magazine, fulcrum means at the rear end of said magazine, a cover substantially coextensive with the length of said magazine and having rearwardly disposed and depending means rotatably mounted on said fulcrum means to permit said cover to be rotated upwardly and rearwardly beyond a plane substantially normal to said magazine and containing the axis of said fulcrum means to permit full access to said rail, a follower slidably interlocked with and guided on said rail, and spring means connected to said follower and cover for automatically shifting said follower rearwardly upon opening of said magazine by said cover and for automatically shifting said follower forwardly upon closing of said magazine by said cover.

18. In a stapling machine, a magazine, a staple supporting rail therein, a follower slidably guided on said rail, a cover for said magazine, a hinged connection between said cover and magazine to permit said cover to be swung relative to said magazine, and 'a' connection between said cover and follower for moving the latter away from the forward part of said magazine upon opening of the latter by said cover.

19. In a stapling machine, a magazine, a staple supporting rail therein, a follower slidably guided on said rail, 2. cover for said magazine, a hinged connection between said cover and magazine to permit said cover to be swung relative to said between said cover and follower for moving the latter away from the forward part of said magazine upon opening of the latter by said cover and for moving said follower forwardly upon closing of said magazine by said cover, and means for automatically locking said cover and magazine upon closing of said magazine by said cover.

20. In a stapling machine, an elongated magazine, a staple supporting rail therein, and defining therewith a raceway, a follower mounted on interlocking said follower on and with said rail, an elongated cover for said magazine, a hinged connection between said magazine and cover, and means for automatically moving said follower in one direction away from said raceway upon opening of said magazine by said cover and for moving said follower in an opposite directiontowards said racezine, a U shaped staple supporting rail within said magazine, an elongated cover substantially coextensive with the length of said magazine, a

hinged connection between said cover and magazine to permit said cover to be swung to be substantially normal to said magazine, slidable staple driving means carried by said cover, means carried by said cover extending within said magazine and adjacent upper portions of said staples to prevent upward displacement of said staples on said rail in the closed relation of said cover and magazine, and means to automatically aline the forward part of said cover with the forward part of said magazine upon closing of said maga zine by said cOVeli 22. In a stapling machine, a magazine having spaced sides, a cover for said magazine and movable relatively thereto and substantially coextensive with the length thereof, a U-shaped staple supporting rail within said magazine, staple driving means movably carried by said cover, said cover having marginal means for removably over lapping and extending between said sides upon closing of said magazine by said cover to position said marginal means in close proximity to the upper parts of said staples supported .by said rail to prevent upward movement of said staples on said rail, and means to limit the insertion of said marginal means in said magazine.

23. In a stapling machine, an elongated magazine, a relatively elongated cover comprising separate and overlapped channeled members defining an elongated housing mounted on said magazine, a staple supporting rail within said magazine and defining therewith a vertical raceway, means hingedly connecting said magazine and cover whereby the latter may be swung relative .to said magazine to permit inspection or removal of said staples on said rail, and a latch for releasably interlocking said cover and magazine.

24. In a stapling machine, a magazine, a rail in said magazine and defining therewith a raceway, a follower slidably mounted on said rail, a cover, means movably connecting said cover and magazine to permit said magazine to be opened or closed, and means interconnecting said cover and follower and responsive to the movement of said cover for moving said follower towards or away from said raceway.

25. In a stapling machine, a magazine having a staple raceway, a rail in said magazine for supporting staples, a cover for closing said magazine and substantially coextensive with the length of the latter, means hingedly connecting said cover to said magazine to allow swinging of said cover towards said magazine to close the latter and to allow swinging of said cover away from said magazine to open the carried by said cover for ejecting one of said staples out of said raceway in the closed relation of said magazine and cover, said cover and magazine having marginal cooperative and separable interlocking means for telescopically arranging said cover and magazine to operatively aline said cover in respect to said magazine and dispose said driving means in alinement with said raceway upon closing of said magazine by said cover whereby the latter is in superimposed relation with said magazine, and spring controlled movable latch means for automatically locking said cover and magazine against hinged separation upon closing of said magazine by said cover.

26. In a stapling machine, a magazine, a rail therein for supporting staples, a cover for closing said magazine, means hingedly connecting said cover to said magazine to permit said cover to be swung towards or away from said magazine, reciprocable staple driving means carried by said 21 cover, said magazine having a wall provided with a recess, and said cover including depending tongue means receivable in said recess to aline said cover in respect to said magazine upon closing of said magazine by said cover.

27. In a stapling machine, a magazine, a cover, and means hingedly connecting said cover to said magazine to permit said cover to be swung away from or towards and against said magazine, said magazine having a front transverse wall provided with a reentrant recess, and said cover including a depending projection receivable in said recess and interlocking with the walls of said recess to aline said cover in respect to said magazine upon closing of said magazine by' said cover.

28. In a stapling machine, a magazine for sllP- porting staples, a cover, and means connecting said cover to said magazine to permit said cover to be swung towards or away from said magazine, said cover comprising front and rear overlapping channeled members, said rear member extending below said front member and adapted to be received within said magazine to be disposed adjacent said staples to prevent upward displacement thereof.

29. In a stapling machine, a magazine, a rail therein for supporting staples, a cover, and means hingedly connecting said cover to said magazine to permit said cover to be swung towards and against said magazine, said cover comprising front and rear channeled members, said rear member having lower marginal portions extending below said front member, said front member at said lower marginal portions defining shoulders, said marginal portions adapted tobe closely but removably and telescopically received within said magazine to locate said cover relative to said magazine, and said shoulders upon contact thereof with said magazine constituting means therewith to limit downward pivotal displacement of said cover relative to said magazine.

30. In a stapling machine, a, magazine having spaced sides, a staple supporting rail within sad magazine and spaced from said sides, a cover comprising a, downwardly and rearwardly curved wall having integrally depending sides, means hingedly connecting lower and rear portions of the sides of said cover with the rear parts of the sides of said magazine, means depending from said cover and receivable in said magazine to aline said cover in respect to said magazine in the closing relation of said cover with said magazine, and means effective automatically to lock said cover in the alined relation thereof with said magazine.

31. In combination, a magazine having spaced sides, a rail therein for supporting staples, a follower slidably mounted on said rail, a cover hinged to said magazine and comprising a part adapted to be straddled by said sides upon movement of said cover towards said magazine to prevent upward displacement of said staples from said rail, and means to limit movement of said cover towards said magazine in closing the latter.

32. In a stapling machine, a magazine, a staple supporting rail therein, swingable means, a, follower slidably mounted on said rail and having a retaining member, and a spring connected to said retaining member for actuating said follower upon movement of said swingable means towards or away from said magazine.

33. In a stapling machine, a magazine, a staple supporting rail therein, a follower slidably mounted on said rail and having a retaining member including a free end, a spring having one or more loops threaded onto said retaining member, said rail having means to prevent removal of said loops from said end, and a cover swingably connected to said magazine for controlling said spring to shift said follower relative to said rail upon swingable movement of said cover towards or away from said magazine.

34. In combination, a base, a spring secured to said base, an arm swingably connected to said base, and a latch seated on and interlocking with said spring and comprising upstanding means for disconnectably interlocking with said arm and including a laterally extending manipulator adapted to be moved towards said arm to remove said upstanding means from said arm to permit the latter to be swung relative to said base.

35. In a stapling machine, a base, an arm comprising a magazine and a cover, spaced lugs carried by said base, fulcrum means carried by said lugs for pivotally supporting said mag zine and cover, staple driving means carried by said cover, and a cap mounted on said driving means, said cover adapted to be swung rearwardly relativ to said magazine to overhang the latter and assume therewith an angle of approximately one hundred and eighty degrees, said cover and magazine adapted to be bodily swung relative to said .base to permit said cap to be in spaced relation in respect to said base and at the rear thereof and substantially in alinement therewith.

36. In combination, a magazine having a front wall provided with a rear transverse face, a staple supporting rail, said rail and magazine having cooperating positioning means to space the forward part of said rail away from said transverse face to provide a transversely disposed staple raceway, said positioning means comprising depending means projecting from said rail and means within said magazine for receiving said depending means, the latter in part projecting through said positioning means within said magazine and adapted to be upset to provide laterally extending means cooperating with said magazine to anchor said rail, a cover swingably connected to said magazine, and staple ejecting means carried by said cover.

37. In combination, a base, a spring secured to a bottom face of said base, an arm swingably connected to said base, and a latch swingably seated on said spring and comprising upstanding means for disconnectably interlocking with said arm and including a manipulator out of alinement with said upstanding means and adapted to be moved relative to said arm to remove said upstanding means from said arm to permit the latter to be swung relative to said base.

38. In combination, a base having a transversely disposed slot, a leaf spring secured to said base and having a free end including alined notches arranged below and in alinement with said slot, a staple holding arm movably connected to said base and having an opening comprising an enlarged portion and a reduced portion in communication with said enlarged portion and defining therewith spaced lips, a tiltable clearing latch comprising a bell crank lever embodying upstanding mean movably projecting into and in part through said slot and having an upper portion provided with spaced gaps to define a restricted part removablyreceivable in said enlarged and reduced portions of said opening and to define upper and lower shoulders to removably interlock with said lips to preclude displacement of said arm away from said base, an inclined part from said with said lips on placing said latch against the resistance. of said smitt n embodying-a manipulator substantially normal to said upstanding means and integral therewith "and disposedbelow and beyond said free end, said upstanding means includ ing spaced lugs having inwardly turned portions interlocldng with and retained by-the walls'of said notches-of said leaf spring, said lugs having upperportionand coast 1 the downwarddisplacement of said armtowards said base fortiltably dis-- way-on movement ofsaid housing towards said 'guideway, and'meansfor' shifting said follower i alongsaid rail and away from said guideway on the movement of s'aid housing away-from said rounded portions h'eld yieldingly-by" said spring against said base for tiltably holding said latch thereagainst, and means depending from said base for movably guiding said latch, said lips cooperating-with said lower shouldersin the interlocked relation of said am and latch to bodily depress said latch and the free end of said spring against the resistance of the latter upon displacement of said arm towards said base, said manipulator adapted to be displaced in a direction towards said arm for removing said shoulders out of interlocking relation withsaid lips for removing said restricted .part of said latch out of the reduced portion of said opening and said inclined part of said latch into said enlarged portion of said opening for lmloclting said arm from said latch.

39. In a stapling machine, a magazine, a cover swingably connected to said magazine and including spaced sides, a rail in said magazine, a follower slidabb moimted on said rail, a slldable latch carried by said cover and having wings overhanging said sides, a rotatable member slidably disposed within said'cover and adjacent said latch, and a spring trained over said rotatable member and having ends connected to said cover and follower.

40. The stapling machine according to claim 39 wherein said cover comprises a rearwardly arranged U-shaped member having its channel facing downwardly and a forwardly arranged U- shaped member having its channel facing rearwardly and including sides straddling said rearwardly arranged member which includes a downwardly and rearwardly curved sloping wall, and said members include slot means for rectilinearly iding said latch longitudinally of said cover.

41. The stapling machine according to claim 39 wherein said cover comprises a rearwardly arranged U-shaped member having its channel facing downwardly and a forwardly arranged U- shaped member having its channel facing rearwardly and including sides straddling said rearwardly arranged member which includes a downwardly and rearwardly curved sloping wall, and said members include slot means for rectilinearly guiding said latch longitudinally of said cover, and said rotatable member carries means slidably guided by said slot means.

42. In a stapling machine, a staple supporting rail, means immovably sustained relative to said rail and constituting therewith a staple guideway, a housing movable relative to said rail to cover or expose the latter, a staple follower slidably guided along sai rail, driving means movably sustained in said housing for ejecting a staple from said guideway, locating means for positioning said driving means in alinement with said guideway on the completion of the covering of said rail by said housing, latch means operable on the completion ofthe covering of said rail by said housing to prevent displacement of the latter relative to said rail, means for shifting said follower along said rail and towards said guidesaid rail on the completion of the covering of said rail by g guideway,

guideway; 43, In a stapling machine, a staple supporting rail, means immovably sustained relative to said rail and constituting therewith a. staple guideway, a housing movable relative to said rail to cover or expose the latter, a staple follower-reciprocably guided along said rail, driving means for'i'eject'ing a staple from said 'guideway, locating means movable relative to said rail for positioning said driving means in alinement with said guideway on the completion .of the covering of by said housing, latch means operable said housing to prevent displacement of the latter relative to said rail, automatic means operable in response to movement of said housing relatively away from said guideway to shift said follower away from said guideway, and automatic means operable in response to the movement of said housing towards said guideway to shift said follower relatively towards said guideway.

44. In a stapling machine, a staple supportln rail, means immovably sustained relative to sai rail and constituting therewith a staple guideway, a housing movable relative to said rail to cover or expose the latter, a staple follower slidably guided along said rail, means for automatically positioning said follower rearwardly relatively to said rail upon movement of said housing in a direction away from said guideway, staple driving means movably guided in said housing for ejecting a staple from said guideway, locating means for positioning said driving means in alinement with said guideway on the completion of the covering of said rail by said housing, and latch means operable on the completion of the covering of said rail by said housing to prevent displacement of the latter relative to said rail.

45. In a stapling machine. a rail for supporting staples, means at and immovably secured relative to the front part of said rail and defining therewith a transversely arranged staple a follower slidably mounted on said rail, 9. housing movable towards or away from said guideway to cover or expose said rail respectively, means to shift said follower relative to said rail and in a direction relatively away from said guideway upon movement of said housing in a direction away from said guideway, means for urging said follower in a direction relatively towards said guideway upon movement of said housing relative to said rail to cover the latter, means bodily movable with said housing and cooperating with said staples on said rail to prevent upward displacement of said staples, and means for locking said housing on the completion of the covering of said rail by said housmg.

46. In a stapling machine, a rail for supporting staples, means at and immovably secured relative to the front part of said rail and defining therewith a staple guide'way, a follower slidably mounted on said rail, a, housing movable towards or away from said guideway to cover or expose said rail respectively, means to shift said follower relatively in a. direction away from said guideway upon movement of said housing in a direction relatively away from said guideway, means for urging said follower in a. direction relatively toward said guideway upon move- 25 ment of said housing to cover said rail, means bodily movable with said housing and cooperating with said staples on said rail to prevent upward displacement of said staples, and automatic means for locking said housing in the covering relation of the latter relative to said rail.

47. In a stapling machine, a rail for supporting staples and having spaced sides and transversely arranged and vertically disposed front surface means constituting staple guiding means, a member at least in part at the front of said rail and immovably secured relatively thereto and having spaced sides straddling the sides of said rail and spaced therefrom to characterize staple guiding channels disposed longitudinally .of said rail, said member having a transversely arranged wall spaced from said staple guiding means and defining therewith a vertically disposed transversely arranged staple guideway, a U-shaped follower slidably mounted on said rail and having depending sides movably disposed in said channels, a housing movable relatively towards said staple guideway for covering said rail, spring means urging said follower towards said guideway on covering of said rail by said housing, automatic means for urging said follower rearwardly relative to said member upon opening movement of said housing relative to said rail and away from said guideway, spaced marginal means removably and telescopically receivable within and between the sides of the member upon covering of said rail by said housing, and driving means for ejectin a staple from said guideway.

48. In a stapling machine, a rail for supporting staples, means immovably secured relative to said rail and defining with the forward end thereof a staple guideway, a staple follower slidably mounted on said rail. a housing movable relatively towards or away from said guideway to cover or expose the latter respectively, automatic means to displace the forward end of said rail relatively forwardly of said follower upon movement of said housing relatively away from said guideway, and automatic means for relatively shifting said follower towards said guideway on movement of said housing towards said guideway.

49. In a stapling machine, a rail having spaced sides and a transversely arranged and vertically disposed front surface constituting staple guiding means, a member at least in part at the front of said rail and secured thereto and having spaced sides straddling the sides of said rail and spaced therefrom to characterize staple driving channels disposed longitudinally of said rail, said member having a transversely arranged wall spaced from said staple guiding means and defining therewith a vertically disposed transversely arranged staple guideway, a follower slidably mounted on said rail and having depending sides movably disposed in said channels, a housing movable relatively towards said staple guideway for covering said rail, spring means for urging said follower towards said guideway on covering of said rail by said housing, automatic means for urging said follower rearwardly of said guideway upon displacement of said rail relative to said housing, spaced locating means telescopically receivable within and between the sides Of said member upon covering of said rail by said housing to facilitate positioning of the latter in the covering of said rail, means for driving a staple through said guideway, and

, 26 automatically operable latch means for locking said housing on the completion of the covering of said rail.

50. A staple holding magazine comprising an elongated box having a horizontal bottom wall and vertically arranged and longitudinally disposed upstanding and spaced side walls integral with said bottom wall, a transverse front wall integral with and bridging said side walls and defining therewith spaced corners, said bottom wall having a U-shaped slot comprising spaced side notches and a common communicating cutaway portion defining a tongue spaced from said side walls and said front wall, a rail adapted to be mounted within said magazine and having depending spaced portions disposed in said notches and closely straddling said tongue for locating the rail relative to said magazine, said rail and said front wall being spaced apart and defining a vertical staple guideway, and means for securing said rail to said bottom wall.

51. A staple holding magazine comprising an elongated one piece box having a horizontal bottom wall and vertically arranged and longitudinally disposed upstanding and spaced side walls integral with said bottom wall, a transverse front wall integral with and bridging said side walls and defining therewith spaced corners, said bottom wall having a U-shaped slot comprising spaced side notches disposed longitudinally of said bottom wall and a transversely arranged cutaway portion communicating with said notches and defining substantially a rectangularly shaped tongue spaced from said side walls and said front wall at the forward part of said magazine, a rail mounted within said magazine and having vertically arranged depending spaced portions disposed in said notches and closely straddling said tongue for locating the rail relative to said magazine, said rail and said front wall being spaced apart and defining a vertical staple guideway, and means for securing said rail to said bottom wa l.

52. The magazine according to claim 51 wherein said longitudinally arranged and spaced notches have rearwardly disposed transversely arranged surfaces constituting stop means for said depending portions of said rail to limit rearward displacement of the latter relative to said bottom wall.

53. In a stapling machine, amagazine for holding staples, means at the front end of said magazine constituting a, staple guideway, a housing substantially coextensive with the length of said magazine and normally in superimposed and telescopic relation therewith and movably guided relative to said magazine for covering and uncovering the latter, a staple follower slidably guided relative to said magazine, means for automatically shifting said follower rearwardly relative to said magazine upon displacement of said housing in a direction relatively away from said guideway, means for automatically shifting said follower in a direction towards said guideway upon movement of said housing in a direction relatively towards said guideway, and staple driving means carried by said housing for ejecting one of said staples from said guideway.

54. In a stapling machine, a magazine for holding staples, meansat the front end of said magazine and constituting a staple guideway, a housing substantially coextensive with the length of said magazine and normally in superimposed and telescopic relation therewith and movably guided relative to said magazine for covering or uncover- 'slidably guided relative to said magazine, means for automatically shifting said follower: rearwardlya relative toesaid magazine upon isplacement: oi'nsaid-housing in I a direction relatively away from a saidguideway for uncovering said magazine, means for'automatically shitting said follower forwardly in a direction towards said guideway upon movement oi said housing in a direction relatively towards said guideway to cover said magazine, means for locking said housing against accidental movement relative to said magazine on covering of the latter by said housing, and driving means carried by said housing for ejecting one of said staples from said guide- I way.

55. In a, stapling machine, a magazine for holding staples, means at the front end of said magazine and constituting a staple guldeway, a housing substantially coextensive with the length of said magazine and normally in superimposed and telescopic relation therewith and movably guided relative to said magazine for covering or uncov'ering the latter, a, follower within said machine and slidably guided relative to said magazine, a connection between said follower and said housing for automatically shifting said follower rearwardly relative to said guideway upon bodily displacement of said housing in a direction relatively away from said guideway, and driving means carried by said housing for ejecting one of said staples from said guideway.

' 56. In a stapling machine, a magazine for holding staples, means at the front end of said magazine and constituting a staple guideway, a. housing substantially coextensive with the length of said magazine and normally in superimposed and telescopic relation therewith and reciprocalbly guided relative to said magazine for covering or uncovering the latter, a follower slidably guided relative to said magazine, a connection between said follower and said reciprocably guided housing for automatically shifting said follower rearwardly relative-to said guideway upon displacement of said reciprocably guided housing in a direction relatively away from said guldeway, means for automatically urging said follower in a direction relatively towards said guideway on movement of said housing in a direction relatively towards said magazine in covering of the latter by said housing, means for automatically and disconnectably locking said housing against movement relative to said magazine towards the completion of the covering of the latter by said housing, and driving means carried by said housing for ejecting one of said staples from said guideway.

57. In a stapling machine, an open top mega zine having a. transverse front wall and spaced sides substantially normal to said wall and defining with the latter a rim having an upper face, a rail for supporting a, staple strip and fixedly disposed within said magazine and below said upper face, said rail defining with said wall a staple raceway and with said sides staple guide slots, a spring controlled follower for urging the foremost staple of said strip into said raceway, a cover for closing said magazine and having spaced sides, a hinged connection between said cover and magazine, said cover adapted to be swung rearwardly and away from said magazine for opening the latter, said cover adapted to be swung towards said magazine to close the latter and to closely but telescopically arrange said spaced sides of said magazine and said spaced sides of said cover to aline the latter relative to relation of said member whereby the latter my "having a front wall and spaced sides,

said magazine, said front wall extending above said rail to prevent spillage of staples of said strip forwardly .of said raceway on swingable' movement ofsaidcover rearwardly away from said magazine, movable driving'means carried by said cover for ejecting a staple from said raceway in theclosed relation of said magazine and cover, abutment means carried by said sides of said magazine and appreciably spaced from and extending above the elevation of said rail, and spring controlled movable means carried by said cover and in part projecting laterally thereof and adapted to automatically interlock with said abutment means on the closing of said magazine by said cover to prevent pivotal separation of the latter relative to said magazine.

58. In a stapling machine, an arm comprising an open top magazine having a, front transverse wall and paced sides defining a rim including an upper face, a staple strip supporting rail disposed below said face in said magazine and having a forward portion spaced from said well to define a vertical raceway and having sides spaced from the spaced sides of said magazine to define staple guide slots, 2. spring controlled follower for urging the foremost staple of said strip into said raceway, a hollow cover member having spaced sides extending longitudinally of and substantially coextensive with the length of said mag-azlne and in superimposed relation therewith, a swingable connection between said magazine and be swung away from said magazine to open the latter and Whereby said member may be swung towards said magazine to close the latter, said front wall of said magazine extending upwardly beyond said rail to prevent spillage of staples from said magaof above the elevation of said forward portion of said rail, said sides of said magazine extending upwardly beyond the elevation of said rail and losely but removably telescope with magazine having upwardly extending wings, spring controlled latch means in part within said cover member and having manipulating portions extending laterally and outside of said sides of having means for said magazine, ejecting a staple and staple driving means for from said raceway in the closed magazine and cover member, 59. In a stapling machine, a staple magazine a. rail spaced from said wall and sides and disposed within and longitudinally of said magazine for supporting a staple strip, a, cover member substantially coextensive with the length of said magazine and in superimposed relation'therewith, means hingedly connecting said member and magazine, said rail and magazine defining a vertical raceway adapted to receive theforemost staple of said strip, and means for driving'said foremost staple thro gh said raceway and out of said magazine. 60. In combination, a. staple magazine having 29 front and rear transverse walls and spaced sides, a rail interposed between said sides for supporting a staple strip and disposed within and longitudinally of said magazine and spaced from said front wall and sides, a cover member substantially coextensive with the length of said magazine and in superimposed relation therewith, means hingedly connecting saidmember and magazine, the front part of said rail and said 1 front wall of said magazine defining a vertical raceway adapted to receive the foremost staple of said strip, means for driving said foremost staple through said raceway and out of said magazine, and a spring cooperating with said driving means to automatically retract the latter pursuant to a driving stroke thereof.

61. In a stapling machine, an elongated magazine comprising an open top box having a front transverse wall and spaced sides, a relatively elongated cover defining a hollow housing having spaced sides substantially coextensive with the length of said box, a staple supporting rail fixedly arranged within said box and spaced from said wall and disposed below the upper peripheral face of said box and defining with the latter a staple raceway and staple guide channels, means hingedly connecting said cover and magazine whereby said cover may be swung towards or awayfrom said magazine, said front wall extending abovethe elevation of said rail to prevent spillage of staples from said rail forwardly of said raceway during swingable movement of said cover relative to said magazine on opening r closing of the latter by said cover, disconnectable interlocking means carried by the sides of said cover and the sides of said magazine and automatically operable on closing of said magazine by said cover on movement of said cover towards said magazine for disconnectably locking said cover against accidental swingable displacement relative to said magazine, and driving means carried by said cover for ejecting a staple from said raceway.

62. In combination, an elongated magazine comprising an open top box having a front transverse wall and spaced side walls, a cover comprising separate channel members defining an elongated housing, a staple supporting rail fixedly arranged in said magazine and spaced from said front wall and defining therewith a vertical race-.

way, means hingedly connecting said magazine and cover whereby said cover may be swung relative to said magazine to permit inspection or removal of said staples on or from said rail respectively, said cover adapted to be swung to a superimposed relation in respect to said magazine to close the latter, and means for disconnectably locking said cover and magazine.

63. In combination, an elongated magazine comprising an open top box having a front wall and spaced sides, a cover comprising front and rear separate channel members defining an elongated housing, a staple supporting rail arranged within said box and spaced from said wall and sides and below the upper peripheral face of said box, means hingedly connecting said rear channeled member and said magazine whereby said cover may be swung relative to said magazine to permit inspectionor removal of said staples on or from said rail respectively, said cover adapted to be swung to a superimposed relation in respect to said magazine to close the latter, and slidable latch means carried by said cover, said magazine having cam means for actuating said slidable latch means during closing of said magazine by said cover, said cam means having means adapted 30 to interlock with saidslidable latch means to prevent accidental separation of said cover and magazine.

64. In combination, a base, a staple carrying magazine pivoted at the rear end of said base. a spring secured to said base, a latch seated on said spring and extending upwardly through said base, and a cover for said magazine pivotally mounted at said end, said magazine having cooperative means to disconnectably interlock with said latch during displacement of said'magazine towards said base for sustaining the forward part of said magazine in spaced relation to said base, said cover during interlocking relation of said magazine and latch adapted to be pivotally swung towards and away from said magazine.

65. In combination, a base, a staple carrying magazine, a spring carried by said base. a latch seated on said spring, a cover for said magazine and substantially coextensive with the length of the latter, and means pivotally supporting said cover and magazine at the rear of said base, said magazine having cooperative means adapted to interlock with said latch during pivotal displacement of said magazine towards said base, said ,cover during interlocking relation of said latch and magazine adapted to be swung upwardly and rearwardly away from said magazine.

66. In combination, a base, a magazine, a. spring carried by said base, a latch swingably seated on said spring and extending through said base, a cover for said magazine and substantially coextensive with the length of the latter, and means pivotally supporting said cover and magazine at the rear of said base, said magazine having cooperative means adapted to disconnectably interlock with said latch during pivotal displacement of said magazine towards said base, said cover during interlocking relation of said latch and magazine adapted to ,be swung upwardly andrearwardly away from said magazine to permit access to said rail, said cover adapted to be pivotally swung towards said magazine to close the latter and prevent access to said rail.

6'7. In combination, a base, a magazine, a staple carrying rail in said magazine, a spring, a. latch seated on said spring, a cover for said magazine and substantially coextensive with the length of the latter, means pivotally supporting said cover and magazine at the rear of said base, said mag azine having cooperative means adapted to interlock with said latch during pivotal displacement of said magazine towards said base, said cover during interlocking relation of said latch and magazine adapted to be swung upwardly and rearwardly away from said magazine to permit access to said rail, said cover adapted to be pivotally swung towards said magazine to close the latter and prevent access to said rail, and means for interlocking said cover and magazine at the conclusion of the pivotal displacement of said cover towards said magazine to prevent accidental pivotal separation of the latter and said cover.

68. In combination, a base, a magazine, a staple carrying rail, a spring carried by said base, a latch seated on said spring and extending through said base, a cover for said magazine and substantially coextensive with the length of the latter, means pivotally supporting said cover and magazine at the rear of said base, said magazine having cooperating means adapted to automatically interlock with said latch during pivotal displacement of said magazine towards said base, said cover during interlocking relation of said latch and magazine adapted to be swung upwardly and 31 rearwardly away from said magazine to permit access to said rail. said cover during said interlocking relation of said magazine and said latch adapted to be pivotally swung towards said magazine to close the latter and prevent access to said rail, a follower slidably mounted on said rail, slidable means carried by said cover, spring means interconnecting said follower and cover, rotary means actuated by said spring means for urging said slidable means towards the rear of said cover, said magazine having abutment means for displacing said slidable means towards the front of said cover towards the completion of the downward displacement of said cover relative to'said magazine, said abutment means having means to. interlock with said slidable means to of the closing of said magazine by said cover.

prevent pivotal separation of said cover and magazine, and said spring means urging said rotary means to hold said slidable means interlocked with said abutment means on the completion of the closing of said magazine by said cover.

69. In combination, a base, a magazine, a staple carrying rail in said magazine, a follower slidably guided on said rail, a latch movably seated on said spring, a cover for said magazine and substantially coextensive with the length of the latter, means pivotally supporting said cover and magazine at the rear of said base, said magazine having cooperative means adapted to disengageably interlock with said latch during pivotal displacement of said magazine towards said base, said cover during interlocking relation of said latch and magazine adaptedto be swung upwardly and rearwardly away from said magazine to permit access to said rail, said cover adapted to be pivotally swung towards said magazine to close the latter and prevent access to said rail, abutment means carried by said magazine, manipulatable movable means carried by said cover, rotary means carried by said cover adjacent said movable means, and a coiled spring trained over said rotary means and secured to said follower and cover for urging said movable means to automatically interlock with said abutment means towards the completion of the swingable downward movement of said cover in closing of said magazine.

70. In combination, a base, a magazine, a staple carrying rail in said magazine, a spring carried by said base, a latch seated on said spring, a cover for said magazine and substantially coextensive with the length of the latter, means pivotally supporting said cover and magazine at the rear of said base, said magazine having cooperative means adapted to interlock with said latch during pivotal displacement of said magazine towards said base, said cover during interlocking relation of said latch and magazine adapted to be swung upwardly and rearwardly away from said magazine to permit access to said rail, said cover adapted to be pivotally swung towards said magazine to close the latter and prevent access to said rail, slidable means carried by said cover, rectilinearly displaceable rotarymeans, and spring means trained over said rotary means for urging said slidable means towards the rear of said cover, said magazine having abutment means for displacing said slidable means towards the front of said cover towards the completion of the closing of said magazine by said cover to actuate said rotary means and distend said spring means, said abutment means having means for disengageably interlocking with said slidable means upon completion of the closing of said magazine by said cover, said spring means urging said rotary means 71. The combination according to claim 64 wherein said spring is depressed by said latch upon downward pivotal displacement of said magazine.

72. The combination according to claim 64 wherein said latch swingably interlocks with said spring and includes a manipulator for manually displacing said latch to disengage the latter from said magazine whereby said cover and magazine may be bodily pivoted and moved towards and away from said base.

73. The combination according to claim 70 wherein said latch includes shoulders serving as abutment means for said magazine to displace said latch and depress said spring.

74. The combination according to claim 70 wherein said base includes an anvil adapted to be shifted longitudinally thereof, and a flat spring is secured to said base and includes a projection cooperating with a projection carried by said anvil to hold the latter in a set position.

75. In combination, a staple magazine having a front transverse wall and spaced sides, a rail fixed within and longitudinally of said magazine and spaced from said front wall and sides for removably supporting a staple strip, a swingable hollow closure for and substantially coextensive with the length of said magazine and in superimposed relation the rewith, means hingedly connecting the rear parts of said closure and magazine, the front part of said rail and said front wall of said magazine defining a vertical staple raceway, said front wall constituting means to prevent spillage of staples of said strip forwardly of said raceway, means for driving the foremost staple of said strip through said raceway and out of said magazine, abutment means spaced from said rail and carried by and extending from said magazina'and spring controlled movable latch means carried by said closure and in the path of movement of said abutment means on the swingable movement of said closure towards said magazine to close the latter for automatically and disengageably interlocldng with said abutment means to prevent rearward pivotal separation of said closure away from said magazine.

76. In combination, a magazine comprising an elongated hollow box including a rim having a front transverse wall and spaced sides and defining an open top channel, a staple strip supporting rail disposed below the upper surface of said rim and fastened within and longitudinal. ly of said magazine and within said channel and spaced from said front wall and'sides, a swingable cover substantially coextensive with the length of said magazine and in superimposed relation therewith to close said channel, means hingedly connecting said magazine and cover to permit said cover to be swung towards or away from said magazine, the front part of said rail and said front wall of the magazine defining a vertical staple raceway, means carried by said cover for driving the foremost staple of said strip through said raceway and out of said magazine, wing means extending from said magazine above said sides, and latch means carried by said cover for disengageably interlocking with said wing means to hold said cover in closed superimposed relation with said magazine and against accidental swingable movement away from said magazine.

77. In a top loading staple machine, an elon- 

